I was lucky enough to take up side saddle as a teenager with borrowed early 20th century tack. It felt v secure but of course I was very small and fit and had rubber bones. We even jumped. I miss my lovely old mare. Thank you so much for your research and information!
Back in the 70s, when I was young and limber, I bought a horse with a serious bucking problem caused by poor training in an ill-fitting saddle, poor socialisation to human company and a trainer who took a very cookie cutter approach to horse education. My coach recommended that I ride him sidesaddle until he settled down and learned to listen. The reason my coach gave was that first and foremost this horse needed to know that the rider was there to help him and could be trusted to stay in the saddle no matter what. I only did sidesaddle in the arena, but it really worked well. He did coach me carefully in how to manage the horse, who did improve to the point where he could be ridden astride as per normal. I found the double pommels really helped me stay in the saddle when he cut loose his wolf. Shying or spooking just wasn't a problem. You just clench your knees and lean back a bit and you are perfectly secure. My coach did say that the most serious danger of sidesaddle riding was when the horse fell down or fell backwards, as it is REALLY difficult to get out of a sidesaddle fast - unhooking your legs from the pommels takes a LOT of time compared to getting out of a regular saddle. There's no possibility of doing a forward roll out of the saddle, or sliding out backwards either. For training purposes, I mostly did without stirrups in case the horse misjudged his balance and went over backwards or lost his footing. Fortunately, neither ever happened. The horse turned out to be quite a champion 3 day eventer - intelligent, sensitive and super bold. A lovely ride once he learned to trust that he wasn't going to be abused. I still miss him.
Thank you for comment. That’s such an interesting story. So pleased it worked out for the horse and you and your coach did a wonderful job teaching this horse to trust again. I’ve come to the conclusion my (very) small experience of side saddle isn’t enough to really comment on whether it’s easy or not. So many of you who have ridden side saddle properly have said how secure you felt, just as much as riding astride.
Once again an interesting contribution from you. Regarding difficult/dangerous fences. Many years ago I was out with the Fernie and had suffered a fall. I carried on but sought to avoid difficult jumps as I was slightly injured. In those days of 'proper' hunting you could take your own line across country diverting to where you thought foxy might be rather than following the route of hounds (never over running them of course). I espied what I thought to be 3 very old people: I white-haired fellow and 2 veiled ladies side-saddled all in black. I thought I'd follow them as they obviously knew the country and would only jump 3 foot tiger-traps etc. Imagine my surprise as we galloped towards a massive hedge at least 5 ft 6 inches high and probably nearly as wide. Surely not, I thought as whooping with joy the old fella ( astride) and the two ladies (side-saddle) took this huge obstacle. I declined it. This is why I know that with experience and proper training a lady riding side-saddle can out jump a man (me)! Lol!
Wow what an amazing sight to see. The ladies that jump those huge hedges side saddled are such skilled riders. Totally in awe of their core strength. Plus amazing horses.
@@Belaugh I think you are referring to Count Sandor who hunted Leicestershire in the 1828/29 season. Apparently, he paid £1,000 for an 8 horse stud for the purpose. I don't think he rode side-saddle though. There are pictures I've seen of him and he's definitely astride or fallen! As far as ladies side-saddle is concerned there is a picture of Paget's ancestors by (in my opinion) the finest artist of the time, John Ferneley sen with the title: Thomas Terticus Paget and wife Geraldine in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire. Sold at Christies for £54,500 in 2008! Viewable online.
@@CDeBeaulieu Thank you for that very interesting information (yes, the name of Count Sandor is familiar) , which prompted me to rootle around in the attic for the correct book and reference. So here it is:- In Guy Paget and Lionel Irvine's The County Books; Leicestershire (Hale 1950) In the Market Harborough chapter XVII it says: "Among other prominent personages were Count Hochberg, brother to Prince Pless, who rode sidesaddle and is reputed to have been head of the German spy service." Thank you for prompting me to seek out and now reread a book I haven't touched for twenty years or more!
@@Belaugh Thank you, very interesting. Not knowing this story I just looked it up and discovered strange things about Alexander Count von Hockberg's family. He was born in London and was in the British Secret Service, not German although the situation is complicated because his father was originally German although the family was Prussian and/or Polish. The report by Guy Paget of his riding 'side-saddle' might have been a cloaked reference to Alexander's homosexuality rather than his actual riding.
Those little sofa style side saddles mustve been so bad for the horses backs! 🥺 I've never really wanted to try riding side saddle, I'm convinced I'd fall straight off!! 😂
When you say 'early 19th century" and then refer to the 1930s, did you actually mean early 20th century? Sorry, just a bit confused by that. Also, male amputees from the world wars sometimes rode side saddle. Not sure how they felt about that!
I was lucky enough to take up side saddle as a teenager with borrowed early 20th century tack. It felt v secure but of course I was very small and fit and had rubber bones. We even jumped. I miss my lovely old mare. Thank you so much for your research and information!
How wonderful. Very impressed with the jumping. It’s great to hear from people who have ridden side saddle and how secure they felt.
Back in the 70s, when I was young and limber, I bought a horse with a serious bucking problem caused by poor training in an ill-fitting saddle, poor socialisation to human company and a trainer who took a very cookie cutter approach to horse education.
My coach recommended that I ride him sidesaddle until he settled down and learned to listen. The reason my coach gave was that first and foremost this horse needed to know that the rider was there to help him and could be trusted to stay in the saddle no matter what.
I only did sidesaddle in the arena, but it really worked well. He did coach me carefully in how to manage the horse, who did improve to the point where he could be ridden astride as per normal. I found the double pommels really helped me stay in the saddle when he cut loose his wolf. Shying or spooking just wasn't a problem. You just clench your knees and lean back a bit and you are perfectly secure. My coach did say that the most serious danger of sidesaddle riding was when the horse fell down or fell backwards, as it is REALLY difficult to get out of a sidesaddle fast - unhooking your legs from the pommels takes a LOT of time compared to getting out of a regular saddle. There's no possibility of doing a forward roll out of the saddle, or sliding out backwards either.
For training purposes, I mostly did without stirrups in case the horse misjudged his balance and went over backwards or lost his footing. Fortunately, neither ever happened.
The horse turned out to be quite a champion 3 day eventer - intelligent, sensitive and super bold. A lovely ride once he learned to trust that he wasn't going to be abused. I still miss him.
Thank you for comment. That’s such an interesting story. So pleased it worked out for the horse and you and your coach did a wonderful job teaching this horse to trust again.
I’ve come to the conclusion my (very) small experience of side saddle isn’t enough to really comment on whether it’s easy or not. So many of you who have ridden side saddle properly have said how secure you felt, just as much as riding astride.
The older side saddles are much more comfortable, a wider seat and feel more secure than the modern ones. Worth investing in an older one.
That’s interesting to know, thanks.
Once again an interesting contribution from you. Regarding difficult/dangerous fences. Many years ago I was out with the Fernie and had suffered a fall. I carried on but sought to avoid difficult jumps as I was slightly injured. In those days of 'proper' hunting you could take your own line across country diverting to where you thought foxy might be rather than following the route of hounds (never over running them of course). I espied what I thought to be 3 very old people: I white-haired fellow and 2 veiled ladies side-saddled all in black. I thought I'd follow them as they obviously knew the country and would only jump 3 foot tiger-traps etc. Imagine my surprise as we galloped towards a massive hedge at least 5 ft 6 inches high and probably nearly as wide. Surely not, I thought as whooping with joy the old fella ( astride) and the two ladies (side-saddle) took this huge obstacle. I declined it. This is why I know that with experience and proper training a lady riding side-saddle can out jump a man (me)! Lol!
Wow what an amazing sight to see. The ladies that jump those huge hedges side saddled are such skilled riders. Totally in awe of their core strength. Plus amazing horses.
I seem to recall reading that a Hungarian Count who hunted with the Fernie always rode sidesaddle. In Paget's book on Leicestershire I think.
@@Belaugh I think you are referring to Count Sandor who hunted Leicestershire in the 1828/29 season. Apparently, he paid £1,000 for an 8 horse stud for the purpose. I don't think he rode side-saddle though. There are pictures I've seen of him and he's definitely astride or fallen! As far as ladies side-saddle is concerned there is a picture of Paget's ancestors by (in my opinion) the finest artist of the time, John Ferneley sen with the title: Thomas Terticus Paget and wife Geraldine in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire. Sold at Christies for £54,500 in 2008! Viewable online.
@@CDeBeaulieu Thank you for that very interesting information (yes, the name of Count Sandor is familiar) , which prompted me to rootle around in the attic for the correct book and reference. So here it is:-
In Guy Paget and Lionel Irvine's The County Books; Leicestershire (Hale 1950) In the Market Harborough chapter XVII it says: "Among other prominent personages were Count Hochberg, brother to Prince Pless, who rode sidesaddle and is reputed to have been head of the German spy service." Thank you for prompting me to seek out and now reread a book I haven't touched for twenty years or more!
@@Belaugh Thank you, very interesting. Not knowing this story I just looked it up and discovered strange things about Alexander Count von Hockberg's family. He was born in London and was in the British Secret Service, not German although the situation is complicated because his father was originally German although the family was Prussian and/or Polish. The report by Guy Paget of his riding 'side-saddle' might have been a cloaked reference to Alexander's homosexuality rather than his actual riding.
Those little sofa style side saddles mustve been so bad for the horses backs! 🥺
I've never really wanted to try riding side saddle, I'm convinced I'd fall straight off!! 😂
I thought exactly the same, awful for the horses back.
Nah you wouldn’t have fallen off, the pommels do help make you feel secure.
@historicalhorses9816 I still think I'd fall off, being a bit 'top heavy' if you know what I mean!! 🤣
When you say 'early 19th century" and then refer to the 1930s, did you actually mean early 20th century? Sorry, just a bit confused by that. Also, male amputees from the world wars sometimes rode side saddle. Not sure how they felt about that!
Oh well spotted! Ops 🙈
That’s an interesting fact about male amputee riders riding side saddle I didn’t know that. Thank you